AT 89 years young he doesn’t yet qualify as the man who puts the Ancient into Norton & Stockton Ancients . . .

But having watched the club since its 1959 inception, Tommy Taylor IS Mr Norton & Stockton Ancients.

A great grandfather who lives near to the club’s Norton Sports Complex with wife Reay, he still recalls its official opening, marked by the visit of Raich Carter’s Middlesbrough.

One thousand or so games on – and that’s just in the Northern League – Taylor constantly reminds players, be they seven or 37, of the pride to be felt in representing the club and used his love for the Ancients as inspiration to get over a recent illness.

Recovered and restored to Station Road, he was quickly back to his old self – telling it like it is, telling them where to go (as ‘Sat Nav’, he knows the best way to everywhere) and, of course, handing out the sweeties.

“He’s been here the whole of the time that Norton have played football here, which is over 50 years.

“He’s seen everything, and he’s the only person that any of the lads here really take notice of.

“If he says ‘You didn’t do very well tonight’, they say ‘You’re right Tommy’. He’s 89, lives round the doors and is a fantastic supporter of the club. He’s been quite ill over the past six months and his focus to get better has been to come and see the football.

“He rarely misses a game, home or away. There’s always someone who’ll give Tommy a lift. We actually call him the ‘Sat Nav’ because he’s been to every ground, knows the best route and no matter how many times you’ve been he’ll know a better way – and he’s always right!”